Army Corps Warns Line 5 Tunnel Project Risks Wetlands, Water in Great Lakes

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft environmental impact statement assessing Enbridge Energy’s plan to build a 3.6-mile tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac to house a new oil and gas pipeline replacing the aging Line 5 infrastructure. The report highlights significant environmental risks during the approximately six-year construction phase, including loss of wetlands and trees, disruption to groundwater and surface water, harm to wildlife habitats, release of drilling fluids, and increased traffic congestion with safety concerns. Although many negative impacts are expected to be temporary and subside after construction, the project would cause some permanent changes such as wetland loss and forest land conversion. The Corps also acknowledged that the tunnel would reduce the risk of a catastrophic oil spill caused by boat anchors rupturing the existing pipeline, addressing a major environmental concern. The project has faced legal challenges and opposition from environmentalists and Michigan officials who are pushing for the removal of the current pipeline, while Enbridge and some federal efforts aim to expedite permitting. The final environmental assessment and permit decision are expected later this year, pending further state-level approvals.